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Multi-Package Shipments

Why use multi-package shipping?

When you use multi-package shipping, you’re able to group packages, get discounted rates, and retrieve a one to many “master” tracking number.

Carrier Support

Not all carriers, and not all services support multi-package shipping. To learn which services support multi-package check the is_multi_package_supported property when making a List Carriers or List Carrier Services call.

Current carriers that have Multi-Package services include: FedEx, UPS, DHL Express, DHL Express Canada, DHL Express UK, FirstMile, Purolator Canada.

Package Types

All multi-package shipment labels created via ShipEngine will use the standard package type of package. This is because carrier-specific packaging is not widely supported by carriers for multi-package shipping.

Rate requests for multi-package shipments that include carrier-specific package types may return rates. However, any labels created from the quoted rates will update the package type to package.

Example

POST /v1/labels

Example Request:

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POST /v1/labels HTTP/1.1
Host: api.shipengine.com
API-Key: __YOUR_API_KEY_HERE__
Content-Type: application/json
{
  "shipment": {
    "service_code": "fedex_express_saver",
    "ship_to": {
      "name": "Amanda Miller",
      "phone": "555-555-5555",
      "address_line1": "525 S Winchester Blvd",
      "city_locality": "San Jose",
      "state_province": "CA",
      "postal_code": "95128",
      "country_code": "US",
      "address_residential_indicator": "yes"
    },
    "ship_from": {
      "company_name": "Example Corp.",
      "name": "John Doe",
      "phone": "111-111-1111",
      "address_line1": "4009 Marathon Blvd",
      "address_line2": "Suite 300",
      "city_locality": "Austin",
      "state_province": "TX",
      "postal_code": "78756",
      "country_code": "US",
      "address_residential_indicator": "no"
    },
    "insurance_provider": "carrier",
    "packages": [
      {
        "weight": {
          "value": 10.0,
          "unit": "ounce"
        },
        "insured_value": {
          "amount": 110.00,
          "currency": "USD"
        },
        "dimensions": {
          "length": 10,
          "height": 10,
          "width": 10,
          "unit": "inch"
        }
      },
      {
        "weight": {
          "value": 20.0,
          "unit": "ounce"
        },
        "insured_value": {
          "amount": 200.00,
          "currency": "USD"
        },
        "dimensions": {
          "length": 15,
          "height": 15,
          "width": 15,
          "unit": "inch"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Example Response:

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{
    "label_id": "se-120646641",
    "status": "completed",
    "shipment_id": "se-236897068",
    "ship_date": "2022-01-04T00:00:00Z",
    "created_at": "2022-01-04T19:13:22.3055032Z",
    "shipment_cost": {
        "currency": "usd",
        "amount": 205.69
    },
    "insurance_cost": {
        "currency": "usd",
        "amount": 6.3
    },
    "tracking_number": "794699375744",
    "is_return_label": false,
    "rma_number": null,
    "is_international": false,
    "batch_id": "",
    "carrier_id": "se-121495",
    "service_code": "fedex_express_saver",
    "package_code": "package",
    "voided": false,
    "voided_at": null,
    "label_format": "pdf",
    "display_scheme": "label",
    "label_layout": "4x6",
    "trackable": true,
    "label_image_id": null,
    "carrier_code": "fedex",
    "tracking_status": "in_transit",
    "label_download": {
        "pdf": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/WJe_Vy3P20K8TUEt-a_5YQ/label-120646641.pdf",
        "zpl": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/WJe_Vy3P20K8TUEt-a_5YQ/label-120646641.zpl",
        "href": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/WJe_Vy3P20K8TUEt-a_5YQ/label-120646641.pdf"
    },
    "form_download": null,
    "insurance_claim": null,
    "packages": [
        {
            "package_id": "se-127246591",
            "package_code": "package",
            "weight": {
                "value": 10.00,
                "unit": "ounce"
            },
            "dimensions": {
                "unit": "inch",
                "length": 10.00,
                "width": 10.00,
                "height": 10.00
            },
            "insured_value": {
                "currency": "usd",
                "amount": 110.00
            },
            "tracking_number": "794699375744",
            "label_download": {
                "pdf": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/e1CdkA2cKEmtkFTHl5Jpjw/labelpackage-127246591.pdf",
                "png": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/e1CdkA2cKEmtkFTHl5Jpjw/labelpackage-127246591.png",
                "zpl": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/e1CdkA2cKEmtkFTHl5Jpjw/labelpackage-127246591.zpl"
            },
            "label_messages": {
                "reference1": null,
                "reference2": null,
                "reference3": null
            },
            "external_package_id": null,
            "sequence": 1
        },
        {
            "package_id": "se-127246592",
            "package_code": "package",
            "weight": {
                "value": 20.00,
                "unit": "ounce"
            },
            "dimensions": {
                "unit": "inch",
                "length": 15.00,
                "width": 15.00,
                "height": 15.00
            },
            "insured_value": {
                "currency": "usd",
                "amount": 200.00
            },
            "tracking_number": "794699375788",
            "label_download": {
                "pdf": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/eJHEkrjJx0C3TA1lE_U3ww/labelpackage-127246592.pdf",
                "png": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/eJHEkrjJx0C3TA1lE_U3ww/labelpackage-127246592.png",
                "zpl": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/eJHEkrjJx0C3TA1lE_U3ww/labelpackage-127246592.zpl"
            },
            "label_messages": {
                "reference1": null,
                "reference2": null,
                "reference3": null
            },
            "external_package_id": null,
            "sequence": 2
        }
    ],
    "charge_event": "carrier_default"
}

Label Downloads

We consolidate all of the labels for a multi-package shipment into a multi-page PDF or ZPL file. Currently, we don't support the PNG format for multi-package shipments.

This is the master tracking label, the first label in the series.

The second label also includes the Master Tracking number on it.